Older women with low back pain might benefit by getting some extra vitamin D, reports a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Low levels of vitamin D can lead to weakened bones, lowered immune function, and sometimes pain.

The new study included 958 people over age 65 who gave information
about the location of their pain, from their midback to their feet.
Blood samples were taken to measure vitamin D levels.

Women were more likely than men to have moderate or severe pain in
some part of their bodies, and women who were vitamin D deficient were
almost twice as likely to suffer from low back pain as were people with
normal vitamin D levels. Vitamin D status didn’t seem to affect low
back pain in men, nor did it influence pain in other parts of the
bodies of men or women.

The "sunshine vitamin" is produced in the body after exposure of the
skin to sunlight. Exposing the face, arms, and hands to sunlight for 15
minutes three times per week year-round can help boost vitamin D
levels. Vitamin D also occurs naturally in a few foods like egg yolks
and fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel. Dairy products, juices, and
cereal products are often fortified with vitamin D.

Just how much vitamin D is best for optimal health is a hot topic. A
growing body of evidence suggests that 400 IU per day, the amount found
in many multivitamin products, is not enough to maintain optimal
levels. Many people appear to need 1,000 IU per day and in some cases
even more. The body's ability to synthesize vitamin D diminishes with
age, putting older people at increased risk for deficiency.

The Institute of Medicine has concluded that long-term intake of
2,000 IU per day is safe for most people. Some doctors recommend even
more, such as 2,000 to 4,000 IU per day depending on the season, but
people taking those amounts should be monitored by a doctor.

Along with the many other benefits adequate D offers the body, such
as supporting calcium absorption that keeps bones strong, the authors
of the new study conclude that the new study’s findings "suggest it may
be worthwhile to question older adults about their pain and screen
older women with significant back pain for vitamin D deficiency."